Special to WorldTribune.com

Syria’s army has captured a village from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) near a key highway linking the cities of Damascus and Homs.

Assad regime forces seized the village of al-Hadath in western Syria, according to reports on Nov. 17 by state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

Syrian forces re-claimed territory where ISIL jihadists had recently advanced near a key north-south highway, the reports said. Al-Hadath is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) east of the highway.

On Nov. 1, ISIL is said to have captured the nearby village of Maheen. Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, said Syrian forces were battling ISIL jihadists near the village of Hawareen, which adjoins Maheen.

Syrian state television reported on Nov. 17 that government forces were advancing towards Hawareen, Maheen, and Qarayatain, which ISIL seized control of in August.

  Al-Hadath, captures village from ISIL, Maheen, Syrian army advancing, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, WorldTribune.com